Rotary meter



w. H. MARSH ET AL 2,155,321

ROTARY METER Filed May 6. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 18, 1939.

INVENTORJ. FRANK J'. Blaoox.:

WALTER H.MAR.:H

April 18, 1939. w H MARSH ET AL 2,155,321

ROTARY METER Filed May 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

FRANK .S .Bacana WApTs-:n H. MAnss-a BY @/MiMf/ Patent-ed Apr. 18, 1939UNITED .STATES `PATENT OFFICE ROTARY METER Application May 6, 1936,Serial No. 78,272

12 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid meters and more particularly to liqudmeters of the rotary type.

In the application of Horace Chrisman andNelson J. Seibert, Serial No.759,774, filed December 29, 1934, there is disclosed a rotary meterhaving a rotor that carries a plurality of radially slidable vanes orblades on rollers operating in a chamber of general cylindrical shape,and a cam moves the vanes radially to successively form measuringchambers which are then opened into the outlet of the meter. f

According to the present invention, a rotary meter is provided in whichthe radially movable vanes are mounted or suspended at the top of themeter at two points, and provision is made to prevent tilting of thevanes. In the preferred embodiment the vanes are mounted on rollers anda plate having suitable tracks thereon is adjusted to such position overthe rollers as to provide upper tracks which definitely prevent thevanes from being tilted. Preferably, the rollers are mounted on ballbearings. Provision is also made to prevent sediment or other foreignmaterial which accumulates in the meter from obstructing the tracks ofthe rollers or otherwise interfering with the operation of the meter. Inthe preferred embodiment the rotor has its top surface inclined andperforated so that sediment that falls thereon will be carried outwardby centrifugal force and down into a bottom sump provided in the rotorchamber, and the tracks upon which the rollers operate are elevated fromthe top surface of the rotor.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel rotarymeter in which frictional resistance to turning is reduced to anunobjectionable minimum.

Another object is the provision of a rotary meter having radiallymovable vanes, wherein the vanes are mounted on anti-friction devicesand means is provided for preventing the blades from becoming jammed, orotherwise interfering with the operation of the meter by becoming tiltedin operation.

A further object is the provision of a meter having novel means foraccumulating sediment in a portion of the chamber thereof where -it willnot interfere with the operation of the blade suspension or meter.

Still another object is the provision of a novel mounting for the rotorand blades in the meter whereby the bottom bearing is protected againstentrance of sediment or other foreign matter.

Another object is the provision of a relatively (Cl. i3-259) rigid rotorwhich is of light weight and easy to assemble.

These and other objects will be apparent from a consideration of thefollowing specification taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a preferred embodiment of theinvention taken on line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the meter with the l0 cover and bearing plateremoved;

Figure 3 is a side view of the rotor with parts broken away showing thevane mounting and cooperating tracks;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 16 IV--IV. of Figure 2,and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom elevation of the rotor.

Referring to the drawings, the meter comprises a anged outer casing Ihaving a cylindrical chamber 2 formed therein and inlet and outletconnections 3 and 4 (Figure 2) respectively communicating with saidchamber. A division plate 5 is suitably secured within the chamber 2between the inlet and outlet openings in any suitable manner, one face 6being substantially coincident With the cylindrical wall 2, and theother face 1 being substantially concentric therewith, the ends of theface 'I being chamfered as indicated at 8. The bottom of the casing I(Figure 1) is counterbored to provide a shoulder 9` and is closed by abottom plate I I resting on the shoulder and held in position by aretaining ring I2 bolted thereto. It will be understood that the bottomcover may be secured to the casing in any other suitable manner. A sumpis provided in the bottom cover and is normally closed by screw plug I0.The casing I at its top has a similar internal shoulder I3 upon which isseated a top bearing plate I4 which preferably is held in place by a 40top cover I5 bolted or otherwise secured to the casing I.

A central shaft I'I is journalled in the bottom cover I I and top plateI4 and carries a rotor I8. The bottom cover II is bored at I9 to allow45 the shaft to pass therethrough, and is counterbored at 2| to receivethe inner and outer races respectively of a radial ball bearing assemblyindicated generally by the numeral 22, the inner race being suitablysecured to the shaft I 'I in 50 known manner as by a pressed fit. Theball bearing assembly 22 is protected from the exterior by a cover plate23 bolted to the bottom cover by bolts 24, or secured thereto in anyother suitable m'anner. The bottom cover II is counter- 55 bored at itsinterior as indicated at 25 to provide a step which receives a seat ring26. A bushing 21 is slidable on the shaft I1 and has a flange 28 at itstop and a cylindrical extension 29 which is slotted at its end asindicated at 3I and receives a cross pin 32 passing through a suitabletransverse hole in the shaft I1. The cylindrical portion 29 of bushing21 provides a running clearance with the seat ring 26, and one or morewashers 33 are interposed between the ange 28 of the bushing and the topsurface of the seat ring 26 to exclude dirt and protect the bearing 22.These washers may be made of any suitable oil resistant materialpreferably having a low coeiicient of friction, such as Micarta,phosphorbronze. Bakelite, or the like. By this construction it will beevident that the shaft I1 is mounted in an anti-friction bottom bearingwhich is protected by the washers 33 against the entrance of sediment orother foreign material from the interior of the meter, and the coverplate 23 prol tects this bearing against injury from the exterior.

The rotor I8 comprises an outer substantially cylindrical wall 35 and ahead 36 preferably integral therewith which is bored at 31 to receivethe shaft I1 extending therethrough. The bottom plate 38 having openings48 therethrough is secured to the rotor and has a central hub 39 whichis bored at 4I to receive the shaft I1. The bottomplate 38 is keyed toshaft I1 by a pin 42 passing through a suitable hole therethrough. Thehub 39 of the bottom plate is counterbored at 44 to receive a coilspring 45, one end of the spring bearing against the top of the bushing21, and the other end reacting against the top of the counterbore 44.The lower end of the cylindrical wall 35. of the rotor I8 is thickenedby an internal flange indicated at 46, and has a plurality of dowelholes therein and threaded bores 41. The outer periphery oi bottom plate38 is thickened and has a plurality of counterbored holes 48 thereinwhich receive the machine screws 49 threaded into the bores 41 in therotor on both sides of the slots 5I, and these together with dowels 59passing through the bottom plate into the rotor ange 46 on both sides ofthe slots 5I maintain the bottom plate in assembled position with therotor. This construction prevents the bottom of the rotor fromspreading.

The cylindrical wall 35 has a plurality of slots 5I bordered withinternal flanges 52 formed therein and which slots are extended radiallyand enlarged through the rotor head 36 as indicated at 53, 53' and 54,54', and which terminate short of the central bore 31 to provide asuitable thickness of metal, a plurality of webs 55 being formedintegral with the head 36 and rotor wall 35 to prevent deformation ofthe rotor. A vane or blade 56 and a vane or blade 51 transverse of thevane 56 are received in the slots 5I of the rotor. The vane 56 comprisestwo at end blades 58 and 59 interconnected by an integral yoke 6I havinga slot 62 therein of sufilcient width to freely receive the shaft I1.The vanes 56 and 51 extend through the slots in the rotor head andthrough the cylindrical wall 35 of the rotor into the cylindricalchamber 2. As the vanes 56 and 51 dier only in that the yokes 6I and 63connecting the two end blades 65 and 66 of vane 51 is offset from, theyoke 6I, only vane 56 will be described in detail. The blade 58 of vane56 is bored horizontally at 61 to receive a pin 68 held in place by asuitable set screw, and a pair of rollers 69 and 1I are journaled on theouter ends of pin 88 on ball bearings and are held in place by suitablespacing washers 'I2 and cotter pins (not shown) `or any other suitablemeans. The top plate I4 has a depending hub 13 integral therewith towhich the cam 14 is secured in any suitable manner. The blade 58 has alaterally cut out portion 15 to receive a roller 18 which is freelyiournaled on ball bearings about vertical pin 11, the pin being heldinplace by a bent over cotter pin 18. Circumferential groove 19 formed inthe periphery of pin 11 at its upper end facilitates removal thereof.The rotor head 38 is machined to provide a pair of horizontal tracks 8land 80 adjacent each of the radial relieved slots 53, 53', 54 and 54',and the rollers 89 and 1I rest on these.tracks respectively and supportthe vanes. The head 38 between the tracks is high at its center and isinclined as the tracks andl rotor wall I8 are approached, drain holes 8|being formed therethrough.

At its top the rotor I8 receives an annular plate 82 having on itsbottom a plurality of pairs of elevated parallel tracks 83 and 84. Theplate 82 is located with the tracks 83 and 84 opposite the `tracks 88,and 8i' and forming a running clearance with the rollers 89 and 1I, theclearance being accurately adjusted by accurately machining the lugs 85on the annular top plate yto the required height. If desired the exactadjustment of the tracks to the rollers may be accomplished by the useof shims placed between the lugs 85 and a complementary machined surface86 on the head 36. The plate 82 is held in assembled position by aplurality of dowels 81 extending through the plate 82 into .the rotorhead, and screws 81 passing through the lugs 85 and threaded into the'rotor head. The plate 82 has four threaded holes 88 therein. To removeplate 82 the screws 81 are removed and threaded into holes 88' in whichthey serve to jack loose the plate 82.

The top bearing plate I4 and lug 13 are bored at 88 to allow the shaftI1 to pass therethrough, and the bearing plate is counterbored at 89 toreceive a bushing' 98 pressed on to the reduced threaded end 9i of theshaft I1. The

Abushing 98 receives the inner race of a combined radial and end thrustballbearing as-l sembly 92, the outer race thereof being received in asuitable counterbore 93 in the top bearing -plate I4. The outer race ofthe ball bearing assembly 92 is bored to the outer diameter of thecircle of balls and terminates at the bottom in a;

spherical shoulder of the outer race and the V upper spherical shoulderof the inner race to resist axial downward thrust, and bear against theside walls of the races to resist radial thrust. An annular plate 94secured to the top plate by screws 95 or other suitable means keeps theball bearing assembly 92 in position. A pinion 96 is slipped over thereduced end 9| of the shaft with a tight t and is keyed thereto, and isheld in assembled relation by the lock nuts 81 which also maintain theball bearing assembly 92 against the bottom flange of bushing 98. Itwill be seen that the rotor I8 is suspended from the top bearing 92, andby means of shims 98 the rotor may be accurately adjusted to allow arunning clearance for the vanes 56 and 51 and rotor I8V with bottomplate II. The pinion coming liquid drives the blades around the chamber2 which causes rotation of the rotor I8. The

cam 14 reacting on the rollers 16 is of such shape that one set of theblades forms two chambers with the division plate 5, one of whichreceives liquid from the inlet 3 While the other is discharging at theoutlet I. 'Ihe rotary movement of the rotor I8 is transmitted by pin 42'to the shaft I1 and by gear 96 to gear 99 which drives the countermechanism. The vanes rest entirely on the pairs of vrollers 69 and 1|and Contact with the cam 14 through rollers 16, thereby greatly reducingfriction. The tracks 83 and 84 on the top plate 82, and the tracks 88and 8| on the rotor head 36 are so spaced as to provide merely a. smallrunning clearance with the rollers 69 and 1| and thereby `prevent anysubstantial axial movement of the vanes or tilting ,of the center axisof the vanes 56 and 51 as they shuttle back and forth. The weight of therotor, vanes and shaft is carried by the upper ball bearing assembly 92,the bottom ball bearing assembly 22 serving merely as a radial bearing.Any foreign material that finds its way into the meter above the rotoris Washed down the inclined head through openings 8|', and through theopenings 48 in the bottom plate 38 of the rotor into the sump providedin the bottom cover Il, and can be drained therefrom by. removing thethreaded plug l0. 'I'he spring 45 maintains the bushing 21 at all timesin contact with the Mcarta washers 33 and is made as weak as practicableto keep thesewashers in sealing contact with the seat ring26, and toavoid undue friction. The Micarta washers 33 provide a seal againstentrance of foreign matter to the bearing.

The invention may be embodied in other specie forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand-not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to vbe embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. In a fluid meter, a rotor having a plurality of radial slots therein,a plurality of vanes movable in said slots'and confined by said slotsagainst tilting in a plane normal to said slots, a plurality of trackson said rotor adjacent said slots, friction reducing means on said vanesoperating on said tracks and secured to said vanes, said frictionreducing means supporting the weight of said vanes, and a member securedto said rotor and having tracks thereon spaced from the tracks on saidrotor, said tracks being arranged in opposed relation to engage saidfriction reducing means and thereby' limit tilting of said vanes in aplane parallel to said slots. 2. In a fluid meter, a rotor rotatableabout an axis and having a plurality of slots therein, a

plurality of vanes movable in said slots, a plurality of tracks on saidrotor adjacent said slots,D rollers journalled on said vanes on axestransverse to theL rotor axis and operating on said tracks .andsupporting said vanes, and a plate secured to said rotor having tracksthereon spaced from the tracks on the rotor and confining the movementof the rollers therebetween.

3. In a uid meter, a casing providing a measuring chamber, asubstantially hollow cylindrical rotor in said measuring chamberrotatable aboutan axis, said rotor having an integral head and having aplurality of spaced slots in the cylindrical wall of said rotorextending into said head, a plurality of tracks formed on said headadjacent said slots therein, a plurality of vanes movable in said slots,rollers journalled on said vanes on axes transverse to the rotor axisand operating on said tracks and supporting said vanes, and a platesecured to said rotor having tracks thereon bearing on said rollers toprevent said rollers from substantially moving axially of the rotorbetween the tracks.

4. In a fluid meter, a rotor rotatable about an axis and having aplurality of slots therein, a plurality of vanes movable vin said slots,a'plurality of tracks on said rotor adjacent said slots, rollersjournaled on ball bearings on said vanes on axes transverse to the rotoraxis and operating on said tracks and supporting said vanes, and a platesecured to said rotor having tracks thereon spaced from the tracks onthe rotor and confining the movement of the rollers therebetween.

5. In a fluid flow mechanism, a casing having inlet and outlet ports, arotor mounted for rotation within the casing on an axis and dening aflow channel with the casing extending between the ports, rotor vanesextending through said rotor for shuttle movement transversely of theflow channel and confined by said rotor against tilting in one plane,and means, carried by said vanes and said rotor, comprisinganti-friction memberaand cooperating spaced tracks arranged on oppositesides of said anti-friction members for confining said vanes againsttilting in another plane at right angles to said first named plane.

6. In a fluid flow mechanism, a vcasing having inlet and outlet ports, arotor body mounted for rotation Within the casing and defining a flowchannel withthe casing extending between the ports, rotor vanesextending through said rotor for shuttle movement transversely of saidflow channel and confined by said rotor against tilting in one plane,and means comprising rollers liournalled on said vanes and cooperatingspaced 'tracks on said -rotor for engaging opposite sides of saidrollers and confining said vanes against substantial tilting in anotherplane at right angles to said first named plane.

'1. In a fluid ow mechanism, a casing having inlet and outlet ports, arotor body mounted for rotation within the casing and defining a owchannel with the casing extending between the ports, rotor vanesextending through said `rotor for shuttle movement transversely of saidflow channel and each of said vanes being confined by said rotor againsttilting in one plane, means comprising anti-friction rollers on saidvanes and cooperating upper and lower tracks on said rotor engaging saidrollers on opposite sides thereof for con ing said vanes againstsubstantial tilting in another plane at right angles to said first namedplane, said rollers supporting said' vanes on said rotor, and means foraxially adjusting said rotor relative to said casing to adjust thespacing of said vanes from the sides of said now channel.

8. In a fluid meter, a casing having a measuring chamber, a top coverfor said chamber, a vertical shaft rotatably journalled in and suspendedfrom said top cover, a rotor secured to and supported by said shaft,radially movable vanes carried onsald rotor, spaced tracks onsaid rotor,and rollers journaled on said vanes on axes at right angles to the planeof said vanes, said rollers being received between said spaced tracks tosupport and prevent tilting of said vanes in a plane normal to saidaxes.

9. In a fluid meter, a. casing ,having a measuring chamber, a bearingplate for said measuring chamber, a combined radial and end thrustantifriction bearing mounted on said bearing plate, a shaft journalledin said bearing and suspended substantially entirely therefrom, .arotary impeller in said measuringchamber supported by said shaft, rotorvanes extending through said rotor for shuttle movement transversely ofsaid chamber and confined by said rotor against tilting in one plane,and means comprising anti-friction members on said vanes and cooperatingspaced tracks on said rotor arranged onv opposite sides of saidanti-friction members for supporting and confining said vanes againstsubstantial tilting in another plane at right angles to said first namedplane.

10. In a fluid meter, a casing providing a measuring chamber, a topbearing plate for said chamber, a bottom cover for said chamber having asump therein, a bearing mounted in said bottom cover below said sump, abearing mounted in said top plate, `a shaft suspended from said last`named bearing and 4Journalled in said other A bearing, a rotor carriedby said shaft and having means for discharging sediment into said sump#5 and sealing means associated with said shaft and bottom cover abovesaid first named bearing for preventing sediment from entering saidbearing.

11. In a iluid meter, the combination set forth in claim 10, whereinsaid sealing means com- 10 prises an annular seat on said bottom coverabove f said last named bearing, a ilanged sleeve carried by said shaftand resiliently biased towards said seat, and sealing washers interposedbetween said seat and said flanged sleeve.

12. In a uid meter, a easing providing a meas- 15 uring chamber, a rotormember having a head and being divided by a plurality of radiallyextending slots and having spaced tracks on said head adjacent saidslots, a plurality of vanes 20 bearing plate andcarrying said rotormember, 30

a bottom cover for said casing, and a bearing in the bottom cover havingthe lower end of said shaft journalled therein.

WALTER. H. MARSH.

FRANK S. BROOKS.

